A homeless man has pleaded guilty to brutally murdering a woman who showed him kindness by offering him shelter, battering her to death with a mallet just days after she took him in.
Apapale Adoum, 39, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday where he admitted murdering Victoria Adams, 37, at her flat in Hammersmith, west London, in February.
Ms Adams was discovered face down in a bedroom with a black bin bag over her head, covered by a pillow, after suffering at least 10 separate blows to the back and side of her head from a mallet found bearing her blood and DNA.
Act of kindness turns to tragedy
The court heard that Adoum had met Ms Adams on February 6 when he was living in a homeless shelter. In an act of compassion that would ultimately cost her life, she invited the stranger to stay at her home in Coulter Road.
However, the relationship quickly soured. Ms Adams wrote a note asking Adoum to leave her property, but before he could be removed, he launched the fatal attack that shocked residents of the quiet terraced street.
Police were called to the property at 10:13pm on February 9 following reports that a man was attempting to force entry into one of the flats. Officers arrived to find Adoum at the scene and Ms Adams dead inside.
Brutal nature of attack revealed
The horrific details of the attack emerged as prosecutors outlined the case against Adoum. Ms Adams had suffered at least 10 separate injuries from being struck with a blunt object, identified as a mallet that was recovered with her blood and DNA evidence.
She was found face down in her bedroom, with a black bin bag placed over her head and a pillow covering that, indicating the calculated nature of the assault.
The 39-year-old defendant, of no fixed address, was arrested at the scene and initially charged with murder in June. He appeared via video link from Wandsworth prison for preliminary hearings before entering his guilty plea on Tuesday.
Judge confirms life sentence
Judge Nigel Lickley KC told Adoum: “The sentence for murder is a life sentence and that is what I will pass on October 24.” The defendant was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
The mandatory life sentence for murder means Adoum will serve a minimum term to be determined at sentencing before being eligible for parole consideration. Given the brutal nature of the attack and the vulnerability of the victim who had shown him kindness, a substantial minimum term is expected.
Community left reeling
The murder in what residents describe as a peaceful neighbourhood has left the local community deeply shaken. Some neighbours reported hearing “piercing screams” in the middle of the night in the days before Ms Adams’ body was discovered.
Ellie Scot, 22, who has lived in the area for 20 years, called the death “shocking,” telling reporters: “The neighbourhood is quite peaceful. There’s never any trouble around here.”
The case has highlighted the risks faced by those who open their homes to vulnerable individuals, with Ms Adams paying the ultimate price for her act of compassion.
Growing concerns over violent crime
The murder comes against a backdrop of concerning crime statistics in Hammersmith and Fulham, which ranks among the top 10 most dangerous boroughs in London. The area recorded 87 crimes per 1,000 people in 2025, 15 per cent higher than London’s overall rate.
Violent crime remains a significant issue, with over 5,200 offences relating to violence against the person recorded in the borough last year. The majority involved assault without injury, but serious violent incidents continue to concern authorities.
Homeless community faces increased risks
Research by the charity Crisis reveals the extreme vulnerability of homeless individuals, with more than one in three experiencing deliberate violence whilst on the streets. Almost half face intimidation or threats, whilst nearly 60 per cent endure verbal abuse or harassment.
However, this case presents a tragic reversal, where someone attempting to help a homeless individual became the victim of fatal violence. The incident raises difficult questions about safeguarding both vulnerable individuals and those who seek to assist them.
Hammersmith’s homelessness strategy
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has implemented a comprehensive strategy to end rough sleeping by 2026, following recommendations from the Rough Sleeping Commission established in 2017.
The strategy recognises that losing private rented accommodation is the second biggest cause of homelessness in the borough, whilst domestic abuse accounts for 114 homeless applications in 2018/19 alone.
Despite these efforts, the tragic death of Victoria Adams demonstrates the complex challenges faced when addressing homelessness and the potential risks involved in individual acts of charity.
A life lost to kindness
Victoria Adams’ death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise from acts of compassion towards strangers. The 37-year-old woman’s attempt to help someone in need ended in the most tragic circumstances possible.
As Adoum awaits sentencing next month, the case stands as a cautionary tale about the risks of inviting strangers into one’s home, whilst also highlighting the desperate circumstances faced by London’s homeless population.
The Metropolitan Police continue to urge anyone with concerns about their safety or that of others to contact authorities rather than taking individual action that could place them at risk.
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